“Just sign the contract. It’ll be fine.”Possibly one of the least reassuring sentences in business.In this week’s Tea and Timbits, we’re talking about negotiation tools — and not the kind that require another software subscription, three dashboards and a consultant to explain the dashboard.We mean the practical stuff:• A letter of intent that records what everyone thought they were agreeing to • A negotiation brief that captures objections, boundaries and desired outcomes • A commercial model that makes sure the deal can actually be delivered profitably • A proper handover document so the delivery team doesn’t have to interrogate the salesperson afterwardsBecause the contract is only part of the story.The real danger is all the promises, assumptions and “oh yes, we talked about that” details floating around outside it.We also get into a recent negotiation where changing expectations and a slightly casual attitude to contracts raised a much bigger question: is this actually a business relationship we want?Sometimes the smartest negotiation move isn’t getting the deal signed.It’s knowing when not to.🎙️ Tea and Timbits — global perspectives on business development to help you prosper.#Negotiation #BusinessDevelopment #Sales #Contracts #Leadership
